HOLLYWOOD, Fla. — One in five children in Florida faces hunger. It’s an upsetting statistic many nonprofits are working hard to change, but one local organization is making strides by meeting the children where they are.
It began with one, very important question.
“They are clearly coming to get an education. But how do you get an education if you’re not eating properly?” said Zeina Zein-Wolland, the founder and president of Mobile School Pantry. “Mobile School Pantry started its humble beginnings in 2013 with one school and 13 families.”
The model is simple – the organization embeds itself in schools located in vulnerable communities, giving children and their families access to free, nutrient-rich foods.
“Families will come and shop from the 28 different fresh fruits and vegetables and 18 nonperishables that we have here, allowing them to make healthy choices,” Zein-Wolland said. “We feed close to 1,200 to 1,500 families monthly through all of our school pantry sites.”
That’s about 7,000 individuals, including 3,000 children.
West Hollywood Elementary is one of 20 school sites served by the nonprofit.
“We have about 180 families that will come through our line today,” Zein-Wolland said.
Linda Gomez goes there every month.
“We are five. I don’t receive Medicaid, EBT, SSI -- I don’t have any help from the government,” Gomez said. “I’ve been coming here for a while now and it’s always been a great help for us.”
Mobile Food Pantry recently received an influx of food and volunteer support, courtesy of Local 10’s Food for Thought program.
“We truly believe no one should wonder where their next meal is coming from, and being here today, being able to hand out products, is one way that we are able to do that,” Publix Super Markets media relations manager Lindsey Willis said.
From the youngest to the young at heart, Mobile School Pantry is feeding families -- body, mind and spirit.
“We’re just not handing food out. We’re giving families a hand up,” Zein-Wolland said.
Mobile School Pantry will be expanding to an additional school site this year and there are many ways you can get involved with the organization.
To find out how, click here.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
